Remembering Kobe Bryant Restaurant Grades Jim’S Burgers the Loss of Los Angeles’ Sports Icon Is 7322 Firestone Blvd

Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020 Vol. 18 No. 43 SYMPHONY CRIME HEALTH OBITUARIES Musical tribute to GameStop Downey gets Residents Beethoven robberies ‘F’ grade mourned SEE PAGE 2 SEE PAGE 7 SEE PAGE 7 SEE PAGE 4 Downey Remembering Kobe Bryant restaurant grades Jim’s Burgers The loss of Los Angeles’ sports icon is 7322 Firestone Blvd. Date Inspected: 1/16/20 being felt internationally, including here in Grade: A Friday 80˚ Downey, where so many grew up idolizing Weekend him. Prinkipia Coffee and Tea Room at a 251 Stonewood St. Glance By William Odis Martin Date Inspected: 1/16/20 Saturday 6882˚⁰ Contributor Grade: A Friday On Sunday morning, a little bit of greatness Godtti’s personified was snatched away from humanity in 7931 Firestone Blvd. Sunday 69˚70⁰ a fiery crash in the foggy hills of Calabasas. Date Inspected: 1/16/20 Saturday Grade: A Kobe Bean Bryant, 41, and his beautiful 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Marie, were among Tacos n Miches the nine people who tragically perished after the 7404 Florence Ave. THINGS TO DO helicopter they occupied crashed minutes before Date Inspected: 1/16/20 10 a.m. Grade: A It felt like the sun was even too sad to shine on LA that entire Sunday as Lakernation mourned PHOTO COURTESY LA LAKERS Red Iron Mongolian BBQ its fallen star. Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, were among nine people killed in a helicopter 106 Stonewood St. Kobe was an inspirational storyteller first and crash Sunday in Calabasas. Date Inspected: 1/16/20 foremost. He encouraged future generations to Grade: A pursue their passions and do what they love. Fatima Grill He made us all better by letting his undying Painting in Pajamas superhero, and he was to many of us. 7840 Firestone Blvd. drive to dominate the competition soak into the Saturday - Norwalk Cultural Arts Date Inspected: 1/16/20 Center, 5 pm fabric of Los Angeles. I loved that he was unashamed to be himself or to express his desires and manifest them into reality. It was this polarizing characteristic which allowed us all to taste Grade: A Enjoy a memorable evening painting He made LA great again by showing us what what it felt like to be a champion. with your child, and you can do so being the best looks like. The City of Angels was Ralph’s Grocery (Bakery) in your comfiest pajamas. Fee is $14 divided in the early 90s, plagued by race wars, He led his teammates, his family and the world by example and showed an entire 9200 Lakewood Blvd. per person and includes instruction, police brutality, and gang violence. It was Black generation how to harvest its talents with a strict regimen coupled with an unmatched Date Inspected: 1/15/20 painting materials and pizza. versus White, Bloods versus Crips, but no colors commitment to excellence. were more important than the Purple and Gold Grade: A once he took the floor. His long list of accolades includes: five NBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, two NBA Finals MVPs, 18 All Star appearances, one league MVP and an McDonalds Kobe was unafraid to be the outsider with a Academy Award. 10207 Lakewood Blvd. competitive edge. “The Black Mamba”, his on- Date Inspected: 1/15/20 Over his two decades of dedication to the Lakers, he sacrificed his body with his win court persona, was unafraid of speaking openly Grade: A about being fueled by equal parts passion and or die patented “Mamba Mentality” playing through injuries and illnesses. anger. He was intolerant of laziness which is Downey Pizza Co. why he had a reputation of rubbing some of Lakernation has flooded Figueroa and the surrounding streets of Staples Center, his teammates the wrong way, including “The affectionately nicknamed the “House that Kobe Built,” to pay their respects ever since 9026 Florence Ave. Cheer & Dance Showcase the news broke (prematurely) by TMZ. Date Inspected: 1/15/20 Diesel,” Shaquille O’Neal. Saturday- Downey High, 10 am to 2 pm Grade: A O’Neal is having a particularly difficult time, NBA players paid their respects by taking 8-second and 24-second violations to Hosted by Downey High cheer, watch as understandably, after the news of his “little honor The Mamba. The NFL’s Pro Bowl was dominated by Kobe coverage and football cheer, dance, pep, and flag teams from fans chanted his name to show their love for the Champion. The Grammy’s were held Stater Bro’s Meat around Southern California perform. brother’s passing.” He shared an emotional 7814 Firestone Blvd. statement on TNT as he was reflecting on the in the Staples Center later that night and it was as if the air was taken away from the Date Inspected: 1/14/20 situation. entire event in wake of the tragic news. Grade: A All of the adjectives and descriptors that flood Everyone is so affected by this major untimely loss. The only other event that could my mind whenever I think of Kobe supersedes possibly compare was the assassination of President JFK, except this is an international tragedy. Stater Bro’s Deli the scope of sports. 7814 Firestone Blvd. Just a few: tenacious, talented, intelligent, We must remember in this time of deep sadness, he would want us all to continue Date Inspected: 1/14/20 explosive, high-flying, relentless, remorseless, to push ourselves, to continue to “put one foot in front of the other” and keep doing Grade: A entrepreneurial, forward thinking, life force, what we love because nothing should come in between us and our destiny if we pursue and a competitive leader. All qualities of an ideal our passions with tenacity. In N Out Journey Tribute 8767 Firestone Blvd. Saturday - Whittier Community Date Inspected: 1/14/20 Theatre, 7 pm Grade: A DSB, described as “the world’s greatest tribute” to the music of Journey, Kobe Bryant’s death hits close to home Arco AM/PM performs live. Tickets start at $25. 10808 Lakewood Blvd. By Eric Pierce Date Inspected: 1/14/20 Editor Grade: A DOWNEY - For Downey resident Jason Barquero, the death of explain it,” said Barquero. “It was a sense of leadership, of Chick-fil-A Kobe Bryant hit particularly hard and close to home. power, of commitment that he had. He was humble and kind. 8613 Firestone Blvd. There was always a high level of respect for Kobe Bryant as an Date Inspected: 1/14/20 They were similar in age. Both worked for the Lakers organization. individual and as a competitor.” Both had families composed of all girls. Grade: A Barquero said his co-workers in the Lakers organization In fact, when Barquero’s daughter was born in 2012, he and his held Bryant in high regard, particularly for his off-the-court Aldi Monster Mash Exhibit wife named her Gianna. charity work. 11215 Lakewood Blvd. Saturday - SugarMynt Gallery in South Date Inspected: 1/13/20 Pasadena, 7-10 pm “My generation, we grew up with Kobe,” said Barquero, who “He would take the time to meet children in hospitals, and works as the PA announcer for the South Bay Lakers, the Lakers’ G he did it without notifying the press and without a publicist,” Grade: A Opening reception for Monster Mash, a League affiliate. “We were teenagers when he came into the league. said Barquero. “He did it strictly for the kids.” classic Hollywood monster exhibition Then I saw him grow as we were growing, saw him form a family as I Lazy Dog celebrating Frankenstein, Dracula, The Mummy, and other classics. was having a family.” Like many people in Los Angeles, Barquero is still grieving 8800 Apollo Way Bryant’s death. And it’s given him greater appreciation for Date Inspected: 1/13/20 Barquero never interacted with Bryant directly but his work as what he has. a reporter for LakersNation.com brought him in close proximity Grade: A during Lakers practices, and Bryant’s presence was unmistakable. “It made you want to hug your family,” Barquero said. “Nothing in our lives is guaranteed.” The Olive Restobar “When he walked out on the court, you felt the aura. I can’t 8830 Apollo Way Date Inspected: 1/13/20 Grade: A Taco Bell 9551 Lakewood Blvd. Engine Fest Downey cuts public comment time Saturday - Camino Center Sports Park Date Inspected: 1/9/20 in San Juan Capistrano, 7:30-2 Grade: A The City Council votes to to the five minutes speakers The 17th annual Engine Fest car show, were previously allotted. USA Donuts and Croissants featuring more than 400 hot rods, roll back the time alloted for muscle cars, classics, vintage autos, 8009 Imperial Hwy. public comment from This is the second change imports, trucks, motorcycles, and “new Date Inspected: 1/9/20 5 minutes to 3. to occur to Downey’s public car row.” Plus food, vendors, disc dogs comment policy in less than Grade: A exhibition, and more. a year, as the council decided By Alex Dominguez last year to give all speakers El Chilito Staff Writer one opportunity to speak for 12812 Paramount Blvd. TWEET OF THE WEEK the entire consent agenda, as Date Inspected: 1/9/20 DOWNEY - The Downey We are about half way through opposed to each item that may Grade: A City Council on Tuesday voted to be pulled for discussion. the construction stages to update decrease public comment time by the PIH Health Hospital - Downey two minutes. The changes are widely Pastgleria 3 Luceros Emergency Department. When it believed to be in direct reaction 12943 Paramount Blvd.

Load more